Singapore Bookstores and Publishers | #BuySingLit

Singapore Bookstores and Publishers

[New!] Support our Singapore Bookstores

Stuck at home? Missing your bookstores even more during this period?
Shop at the online bookstores below and get your book cravings delivered to your doorstep.

We've also marked (*) some bookstores that are accepting and fulfilling order during the circuit breaker period. Happy shopping!

BooksActually is an independent bookstore in Singapore specialising in Fiction and Literature, aiming to sell books that major bookstores don't display or put up often.

In order to garner more attention to local literary works, they often host events like book talks, book launches, panel discussions and many more, which appeal to a wide range of people. BooksActually gives opportunities to local writers, so that they could be comfortable showcasing their works.

Support their online bookstore: www.booksactuallyshop.com.
Free shipping options available, see T&Cs for details.

Booktique Where Writers Shop is an independent bookshop founded in 2013 by a freelance writer for aspiring writers. After a year of book fairs, it opened its first pop-up bookshop at The Cathay and MP Baey Yam Keng attended its inaugural celebration. The 3-months' pop up ended in August 2014 and two months later, Booktique opened its next pop-up bookshop at CityLink Mall. The 6-months' pop up ended in May 2015, and they now organise books fairs islandwide.

Support their online bookstore: booktique.weebly.com.

Just a glimpse of its signature navy blue coloured carrier bag and any book lover will know someone went book buying at Books Kinokuniya. Starting with their first branch at Liang Court Shopping Centre in December 1983, Books Kinokuniya has grown and expanded since then. Their flagship store provides various titles from all over the world including English, Japanese, Chinese, French and German publications.

Support their webstore: singapore.kinokuniya.com.

 

"They are not only our readers. They are our friends and we are connected by books and humanity. Money can’t buy it."
- Tan Waln Ching, City Book Room.

城市書房 City Book Room is a Singapore-based independent publisher and bookstore, which aims to publish good literary works, spread knowledge and sustain the development of our culture. Some of their best-selling SingLit titles include,《画室》,《戏服》by 英培安,and This Is What Inequality Looks Like by Teo You Yenn.

Set up in 2013 by owners Denise Tan and Kelvin Ng, Closetful of Books is a roving local children’s bookstore that reaches out to children in their school canteens.

Both owners are book lovers who grew up reading magical stories. They believe in the power of a book, and that children should be given that access and opportunity. Any given roving book fair at a school is accompanied by a wide range and specially curated selection of picture books, novels, non-fiction titles or graphic novels.

Support their online bookstore: www.closetfulofbooks.com.
Free shipping options available, see T&Cs for details.

 

草根書室 (Grassroots Book Room) believes that for books to be discovered and appreciated, a physical space where readers can interact with books is important.

However, keeping their business afloat by selling more books remains their biggest challenge. To attract customers, they organise talks and exhibitions, and post information about new books, including local ones, on social media. So far, Grassroots Book Room has made an impression on book lovers.

“Our tagline for the store is ‘Hold Singapore in Your Hands’ and we (also) want to tell our visitors from overseas that the best souvenir they can bring home is a Singapore book.” -Edmund Wee, founder of Epigram.

Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop is the only bookshop to offer only Singapore books. These are books written about Singapore, books written by Singaporean authors or books published by Singaporean publishers – in all, more than 400 titles!

Support their online bookstore: shop.epigrambooks.sg.
Free shipping options available, see T&Cs for details.
Now happening: Free delivery for the month of April! For all Singapore addresses with any order (regardless of minimum spend).

 

Fuelled by an inspiration to bring Singapore titles to a wider audience and give readers a chance to grow alongside home-grown stories, LocalBooks.sg aims to be a bookstore where all sorts of Singapore books can be found.

LocalBooks.sg believes SingLit can offer young readers stories that they can relate to when compared to international titles. To spread this awareness, they would engage schools as young as preschool level and recommend local titles, so that the love for SingLit can be cultivated from a young age.

Support their online bookstore: localbooks.sg.
Free shipping options available, see T&Cs for details.

 

Maha Yu Yi was started by Mr. Sung Teo Chu in 1969 due to his passion for Chinese culture, books and arts. However, realising that there were no bookstore dedicated to Chinese children’s titles, Sung Yuen Ling decided to start her own children’s bookstore that would easily allow parents to browse and select Chinese story books and get children to enjoy reading Chinese.

Support their online bookstore: https://www.yuyi.com.sg.
Free shipping options available, see T&Cs for details.

Established in 1906, MPH Bookstore has come a long way and been through the shifting tides of buying trends and reading habits. Besides competition from other major bookstores, their biggest challenge now is from the world’s largest online retailer – Amazon and its related company The Book Depository.

Nonetheless, MPH Bookstore is always keen to champion local literature and makes books written and published by local writers and publishers easily available in their bookshops.

As a homegrown bookstore, Popular Bookstore Singapore feels proudly duty bound to promote local literature. They have always actively profiled local authors and their works.

From time to time, they would conduct interviews with local authors and feature them in POPCLUB, their quarterly membership magazine with a print run of 140,000 copies per issue. It also aims to profile the local literary scene by providing local authors with a platform to showcase their writings.

 

Established in 1978, Times Bookstores has been selling books to readers in Singapore for close to 40 years. It is a member of Times Publishing Limited, a highly regarded media company. Times Bookstores offers English language books that cater to readers of all ages and interests.

Their bestselling SingLit titles include (auto)biographies of local icons, books about local politics and local fiction titles that are award winners. Times Bookstores also conducts an annual promotion for local books during the National Day month.

Support their online bookstore: www.goguru.com.sg.
Free shipping options available, see T&Cs for details.

Ungu Pen is an independent publisher and learning provider that creates and delivers learning content through books and workshop for educators and caregivers of children and the youth in Singapore.

Shop online.

 

Established more than 60 years ago, Union Book 友联书局 is a leading book company that specialises in retailing and distributing a wide range of Chinese books.

However, in order to cope with the increasing popularity of online bookstores, readers’ growing preference for e-books and a decline in Chinese book readership, they would hold book fairs in schools and malls to reach out to younger readers. They would display local books upfront in their bookstore with prominent posters and offer promotions too.

 

Set up in 2009 as an independent bookshop, Woods in the Books began life in Tiong Bahru dedicated to selling picture books for the young and young at heart. While a first of its kind then, it was still a brick and mortar shop that faced difficulties. In spite of the challenges, the bookshop owners persevered instead of falling under pressure from larger international book stores.

Almost a decade later, Woods in the Books continues to champion and showcase SingLit titles.

Shop onlineFree islandwide shipping options available, see T&Cs for details.

[New!] Support our Publishers (and homegrown authors too)

Show some love for the publishers and check out their online bookstores too.
There are more than just the traditional hardcover/paperback books; explore the world of audio books and ebooks too!

We've also marked (*) some publisher's online stores that are accepting and fulfilling order during the circuit breaker period. Happy shopping!

Established in 1983, Asiapac Books is Singapore's leading publisher of educational comics and illustrated books designed to enhance lifelong learning. Our publications focus on Asian culture, including history, philosophy, health practices, art and literature.

Support their online bookstore: asiapacbooks.com.
Free shipping options available, see T&Cs for details. Happening now: Up to 50% off storewide (for online orders only)

Other online resources: Digital Comics | eBooks | Google Play

Established by a team of former journalists, Bubbly Books publishes entertaining and fun books that children can't help but love to read. Loaded with learning moments, the books are parent-approved and teacher-recommended. Bubbly Books aims to instil a passion for reading at an early age, encouraging children to let their imaginations soar.

See their catalogue and support their online bookstore: www.bubbly-books.com.

Other online resources: eBooks

Crimson Earth is a publishing firm focused on education, academia and literary development. Its imprints include works by Cultural Medallion recipients, Singapore Literature Prize winners, SEA Write Award recipients and Royal Commonwealth Society essay competition winners as well as commissioned projects for the National Arts Council, the National Book Development Council of Singapore and the Lee Kuan Yew Fund for Bilingualism.

Support their webstore: store.vidya.sg.

Epigram Books publishes fiction for all ages, from picture books to chapter books to graphic novels to literary fiction. Its best-selling Amos Lee series for middle-grade readers has sold 250,000 copies worldwide, while its graphic novel The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye featured on the Best Books of 2016 lists of many leading newspapers. In 2015, it launched the Epigram Books Fiction Prize, Singapore’s richest literary prize.

Support their online bookstore: shop.epigrambooks.sg. Free shipping options available, see T&Cs for details.
Now happening: Free delivery for the month of April! For all Singapore addresses with any order (regardless of minimum spend).

Other online resources: Audio Books | eBooks

Established in 1997, Ethos Books is an independent book publisher based in Singapore, and an imprint of Pagesetters Services Pte Ltd. Giving voice to emerging and exciting writers from diverse backgrounds, Ethos Books fosters an environment in which literature and the arts not only survive, but thrive. We are always open to new ideas and collaborative approaches to publishing: that's why our authors and their ideas come first.

Support their online bookstore: www.ethosbooks.com.sg.

Other online resources: Audio Books | eBooks

Lingzi Media is a publishing and distribution company that aims to promote the Chinese language in Singapore. Over the past 20 years, Lingzi has worked with writers and educational institutions to produce a wide range of literary and non-fiction titles, and has developed into a leading company in the fields of publishing, culture and education in Singapore.

Support their online bookstore: sgchinesebooks.com.
Free shipping options available, see T&Cs for details.

Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) is one of Southeast Asia's largest trade book publishers, with a history of nearly 50 years. Their publishing categories include biography, business, cuisine, culture and heritage, fiction, politics and travel. In addition to a rich backlist of titles available for licensing, they provide a complete suite of custom publishing services for corporations and individuals.

Support their online bookstore: www.marshallcavendish.com.
Free shipping options available, see T&Cs for details.

Other Online resources: Audio Books | eBooks | Google Play | For Subscription 

Founded in 1963, Pustaka Nasional started as a bookshop selling imported books. It then began publishing Islamic books and literary works in Malay, and has since published over 900 titles. It distributes to retail outlets in Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia, and also offers typesetting services in Arabic, Malay and English.

Support their online bookstore: www.pustaka.com.sg.

Unggun Creative started with a vision to publish high-quality Malay literary works from Singaporean writers. They believe that exemplary works of literature should have a good command of the language, embrace a forward-thinking philosophy and communicate its purpose succinctly. They also promote publications from like-minded writers on our e-commerce platform at UnggunCreative.com.

Support their online bookstore: ungguncreative.com.

Other Online resources: eBooks

Map of Singapore Bookstores

As part of the #BuySingLit movement to celebrate stories from Singapore, we have mapped out some bookstores with strong SingLit collections and regular activities that feature Singaporean writers.

Download the Map of Singapore Bookstores here. Embark on this journey with us to discover and embrace our ever-expanding SingLit world.

Like and Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates.